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An inquest into the mysterious death of a man on the Scilly Isles was dramatically halted when a witness came forward claiming to have seen him involved in an altercation with a group of Eastern European party-goers on the night he disappeared.

Josh Clayton, 23, a bar manager was found dead in September last year, 11 days after vasnishing from a private party on the island of Tresco, which is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall and leased by the Dorrien-Smith family.

It was initially thought he may have walked or fallen into the water while drunk, but a fresh police inquiry has now been ordered after one witness claimed to have seen him clash with a large group of men, before running off saying he was going to kill himself.

It is feared the case could represent the first murder on the remote island group, which has a population of just 2,200, since 1976.

There have been no murders in the Scilly Isles since 1976Credit:
Paul Armiger

Mr Clayton had been a guest at a party at a venue called The Shed on the island of Tresco, which is run by the Dorrien-Smith family.

The family are friends of the Prince of Wales and Tristan Dorrien-Smith, their son, had been at the party.

On the third day of the inquest held in Plymouth, the barrister for the police, Andrew Waters, said that new evidence given by fellow party-goer, Leroy Thomas meant "there are lines of inquiry which need to be pursued and bottomed out".

He said Mr Thomas, 42, from St Day, Cornwall, had given two statements to police following Mr Clayton's disappearance, claiming he did not know him and did not recall meeting him.

But when he appeared at the inquest he gave a very different account to the events that night which the coroner admitted had "surprised" everyone.

Mr Thomas claimed to have seen Mr Clayton involved in an altercation with some Polish or Hungarian men.

Police have been told to re-examine the case amid fears it could have been a murder

He told the jury that he had seen Mr Clayton "ranting and raving" before he ran off into a gorse thicket threatening to kill himself.

Mr Thomas claimed he had returned to the scene later but there was no sign of Mr Clayton.

He then said he had reported to the altercation to Mr Dorrien-Smith.

Mr Waters said if the fresh account was truthful, the police need to corroborate his evidence with the East European seasonal workers, and also with Mr Dorrien-Smith, who had previously told police he had not been aware of an incident.

Thomas Leeper, who is representing the Clayton family, said they wanted the case to be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions as the police investigation had been "inadequate to date".

Addressing Ian Arrow, the assistant coroner for Cornwall, he said: "Mr Thomas' suggestion that Tristan Dorrien-Smith has information relating to the circumstances of Josh's disappearance is of great concern in the light of Mr Dorrien-Smith's failure to abide with your request to attend and give evidence at this inquest."

He added: "Leroy Thomas must be interviewed under caution as to his involvement and knowledge of Josh's disappearance as a matter or urgency."

Mr Leeper went on: "The family very regretfully has no confidence in the ability of Devon and Cornwall police to conduct an effective investigation."

The coroner halted the inquest into the death of Josh Clayton following new evidence

The inquest was told that the case had been treated as a missing persons inquiry despite the fact there was "substantial evidence of criminality on the night in question".

Despite reports that Mr Clayton had been "smashed", he said no drugs had been found in his system and he was only two and a half times over the legal drink drive limit when his body was found.

It was also claimed that forensic tests were not carried out on Mr Clayton's blood stained clothing before they were destroyed.

Discharging the jury and suspending the inquest indefinitely, Mr Arrow said it was key that Mr Thomas was re-interviewed by police.

He told the jury: "The police need to carry out further inquiries, and added: "I would invite Devon and Cornwall police to share their files with the CPS."

Mr Clayton disappeared in the early hours of September 13th 2015.

His body was found washed up on the small uninhabited isle of Tean 11 days later.

His cause of death was unascertained but the pathologist Dr Russell Delaney had said it was 'possible' he had been pushed into the sea.

But he also said he could have fallen or walked into the water, or been lying on a beach and washed out by the incoming tide.

Dr Delaney said: "There were no injuries to show he had been violently assaulted prior to his death. There were no major traumatic injuries."

A Devon and Cornwall police spokeswoman said: "The inquest into the death of Josh Clayton has been adjourned and suspended following new evidence which only emerged during evidence on Tuesday, 10th January 2017.

"This is the first time that Devon and Cornwall Police have been made aware of this new evidence and further investigations will be carried out as a result."